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Don't car jack a manual car

Don't car jack a manual car

Old Apr 18th 2017, 5:24 pm
  #31  
 
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by Paul_Shepherd
Good for that dealer! At least he believes in what he is selling!

Scenario....

Customer: Hi yes im interested in purchasing a new Challenger

Dealer: Oh yes sir, come and take a look, we have the choice of three colours in at the moment

Customer: Oh they are beautiful, Ill take the red, but could I have automatic transmission?

Dealer: Automatic??

Customer: Yes

Dealer: Get out!

<dealer walks off shaking head in disbelief>

Its like going to a very high end steak house restaurant and asking for your steak well done! .... again.....get out! ....
The Shelby Mustang 350 GT isn't available with an automatic transmission.
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Old Apr 18th 2017, 6:07 pm
  #32  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by Pulaski
The Shelby Mustang 350 GT isn't available with an automatic transmission.
The original GT350 and GT500 were available with automatic boxes from 1966. One might reasonably argue that the Hertz 350 Mustangs were what built the Shelby brand (that and the insatiable urge to sign things for five bucks) and they had automatic boxes. Shelby even had an AC Cobra with an automatic box.

I don't think there's shame in driving an automatic if you're an American, in that circumstance you likely have bigger things to be ashamed of.
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Old Apr 19th 2017, 4:15 pm
  #33  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by Pulaski
The Shelby Mustang 350 GT isn't available with an automatic transmission.

I rest my case!
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Old Apr 19th 2017, 8:35 pm
  #34  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

A friend had a '66 with (I think) a 289 and an automatic and it was still cool to ride around in, lots of power but they were still pretty basic cars.
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Old Apr 19th 2017, 8:45 pm
  #35  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

I used to race go-karts back when I was in my 20s, the one I raced had a 250cc motorbike engine and, of course, no suspension. It was great fun until I wreaked my knee and then when I tried to get back to it, I couldn't walk for days after. Years after, when I used to drive 30,000 miles per year with my job, I had an operation on said knee. Helped a lot, but in the end I got an automatic because my knee would regularly lock up if I was in stop-start traffic. I would have preferred to stay with manual cars, but I also needed to be able to walk from the car when I stopped driving. Sometimes you just have to go with what gets you through life...
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Old Apr 19th 2017, 9:37 pm
  #36  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by becks_r
I used to race go-karts back when I was in my 20s, the one I raced had a 250cc motorbike engine and, of course, no suspension. It was great fun until I wreaked my knee and then when I tried to get back to it, I couldn't walk for days after. Years after, when I used to drive 30,000 miles per year with my job, I had an operation on said knee. Helped a lot, but in the end I got an automatic because my knee would regularly lock up if I was in stop-start traffic. I would have preferred to stay with manual cars, but I also needed to be able to walk from the car when I stopped driving. Sometimes you just have to go with what gets you through life...
I have no issue with automatics, it sounds like your scenario is a perfect example. I own two vehicles, one is a automatic (a Trailblazer SUV) and the Mustang is manual. I just couldnt bring myself to buy an automatic Mustang! But i totally empathise with your case.

How long did you race karts for, i used to to that too when i was younger id love to get back into it again! Certainly gets the adrenaline and the competitive spirit flowing!!!
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Old Apr 20th 2017, 6:24 pm
  #37  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by Paul_Shepherd
I have no issue with automatics, it sounds like your scenario is a perfect example. I own two vehicles, one is a automatic (a Trailblazer SUV) and the Mustang is manual. I just couldnt bring myself to buy an automatic Mustang! But i totally empathise with your case.

How long did you race karts for, i used to to that too when i was younger id love to get back into it again! Certainly gets the adrenaline and the competitive spirit flowing!!!
I only did it for 1 and 1/2 years, I brought the kart with money I got when I was made redundant, and I shared the racing with my boyfriend. Then I did my knee in, couldn't race for a few months and then split up with the boyfriend! So even if my knee had ever got better enough to race it again, I couldn't get to tracks to race, as I didn't have a car.

I also didn't have a garage, so in the end I sold the kart because my Mum was fed up with it being on my bedroom floor, or worst, in the dining room!

I have tried doing it since at these little indoor tracks with smaller karts, but it isn't the same as driving a meaty kart on proper race tracks. But even the little karts mess with my knee!! Still miss it though, it was such fun!
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Old Apr 22nd 2017, 11:32 pm
  #38  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

I will always drive a manual, even if it means less choice of cars to buy. At least it won't get stolen haha!
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Old Apr 23rd 2017, 12:10 am
  #39  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Are manuals a pain in city traffic driving stop and go?

They seem like they would be. 95% of my driving is in congested Vancouver, stop and go and an average speed of 38 km/h according to the car dash thing.
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Old Apr 23rd 2017, 12:17 am
  #40  
 
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by Jsmth321
Are manuals a pain in city traffic driving stop and go. .....
Not in my opinion. Many disagree.

For me, I can shift up and down, and depress the clutch when rolling to a stop, without even thinking about it. Shifting is in no way burdensome for me under any circumstances.

So long as I have two function legs and two functioning arms there is no circumstance under which I would choose an automatic if a manual was available.
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Old Apr 23rd 2017, 12:20 am
  #41  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by Jsmth321
Are manuals a pain in city traffic driving stop and go?
It depends on the car. If it's highly tuned and has a "heavy" clutch, one demanding a lot of push, then yes. At one point I commuted in a Lotus 7 which, while a fabulous car, was not ideal for the role for the reasons mentioned (and for having no weather equipment). Something like a Cobra, where the engine is very much on or off, would be worse. I currently commute in a Mustang which doesn't have a very peaky engine and does have loads of torque (which allows one to get away with being in the wrong gear), that's easy, if a bit granddad-ish.
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Old Apr 23rd 2017, 8:47 am
  #42  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by Jsmth321
Are manuals a pain in city traffic driving stop and go?

They seem like they would be. 95% of my driving is in congested Vancouver, stop and go and an average speed of 38 km/h according to the car dash thing.
I've done it for over 30 years, on 5 different clutches, and I have to confess I've tired of it. For me it isn't so much stop and go in city traffic (eg, at intersections, traffic lights etc), but freeway traffic that moves incredibly slowly but doesn't stop completely, and not being able to find the sweet spot in first or second, or second and third. Like Pulaski, driving a manual for me is so totally second nature that I don't notice I am having to do it, until my calf starts to ache a bit...

I've made the decision that when I move to Vancouver I will be getting an automatic car (for the first time in my driving life - eek). I hope I don't miss the manual too much.

BTW, my Canadian +1 (who's lived in Toronto) was very amused by the story that started this thread. Not amused for the poor person who was carjacked, but amused by how stupid the criminals were.

Last edited by MelVan; Apr 23rd 2017 at 8:50 am.
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Old Apr 23rd 2017, 2:46 pm
  #43  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by Jsmth321
Are manuals a pain in city traffic driving stop and go?

They seem like they would be. 95% of my driving is in congested Vancouver, stop and go and an average speed of 38 km/h according to the car dash thing.
I only found it a pain because of my dodgy knee, the actual mechanics of changing gear and depressing the clutch was 2nd nature. Not sure it would be now though. And I agree with MelVan, the slowly but never stopping traffic where you are constantly changing from first to second, back to first etc etc. That was the killer on my knee.

When I started getting company cars it was easy to move to automatics, but I had to deal with problems with manual cars for over 10 years from when I did my knee in, in my 20s. So it's not necessarily an age thing that stops people driving manuals. My last manual car was a Ford Escort RS - no power steering, heavy clutch - final straw really!

Before I left UK, I was driving a Golf and you could switch into manual mode, still no need for a clutch, but you decided when to change gear - that was fun!
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Old Apr 23rd 2017, 2:49 pm
  #44  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by MelVan
I hope I don't miss the manual too much.
I think most people keep clutching for a little while.
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Old Apr 23rd 2017, 3:34 pm
  #45  
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Default Re: Don't car jack a manual car

Originally Posted by MillieF
Our son, who is 16, is presently wanting to drive us 'everywhere' ...the long way round! For the practice.

I cannot drive an automatic- well I probably can, but won't - so we have two stick shifts in the family plus one 2CV...he's doing well (he loves the 2CV, and dresses accordingly, with 'cool' shades, and is evidently longing to ditch the parents in September) I do however think that it's far better getting a newbie to learn how to drive a stick shift, even if he just has a future in car theft or indeed Formula 1 to look forward to.

I often drive a car full of teens and they study what I'm doing with the gears
Ike you wouldn't believe
LOL I was very impressed that you could operate a twin shift ,,then I had a coffee and looked again. DUH . Was given an 80s two lever Mack to drive in 2010 and that was entertaining till I got the hang off it.
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